In order to better serve our stakeholders, SeriesFest is committed to leveling the playing field, with the goal of elevating the productions and content we promote to reflect the diversity in our communities. We are instituting a mandate for submission review that evaluates a production’s process for hiring and casting with the intention of expanding the candidate pools, encouraging employment of qualified cast and crew who have been traditionally underrepresented, and demonstrating accountability to advance progress.
SeriesFest, in partnership with the Royal Bank of Canada, is launching a sequence of opportunities to make our festival more accessible for all content creators, and to celebrate a commitment to diversity and equity, including a waiver for submissions. Pilots applying for the Independent Pilot, Digital Short Series, Late Night, and Collegiate Spotlight competitions have the opportunity to apply for a submission waiver.
SeriesFest is excited to partner with Abigail Disney's Level Forward to present a brand new opportunity for creators applying to the Independent Pilot, Digital Short, and Late Night competitions!
Creators will have the opportunity to opt-in to be considered for the Level Forward Impact Award, which will be given to the episodic pilot and team who demonstrate, on top of their commitment to creative excellence, a thoughtful, thorough and deliberate approach to using storytelling as a means of leveling the playing field for underrepresented people including women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA and alternatively abled voices. In keeping with Level Forward’s mission to advance the access, opportunity, and influence of storytelling, we are looking for compelling and entertaining pilots that have incorporated this ethos into the fabric of their process and project.
The Executive Elevation Mentorship aims to diversify the landscape of television's top decision makers. Fellows will be paired with top television, new media and digital executives of color in hopes of moving their projects - and careers- forward. As part of our mission, SeriesFest will curate a dedicated group of mentors and mentees to spark change in the landscape of the tv/film/media industry at the leadership level.
SeriesFest and Shondaland are proud to have partnered for the past three years on the Women Directing Mentorship -- a competition designed to discover aspiring female directors with a unique voice and provide a launchpad for their career. The Women Directing Mentorship is anchored with the prestigious opportunity to shadow a director for an episode of a Shondaland original series and a $5,000 stipend to use during the duration of their mentorship.
Caz Matthews is a Colorado-based supporter of SeriesFest and of the independent creators of television content who show their projects at the annual SeriesFest. In particular, Caz has an interest in providing funding to projects in which diversity stereotypes and unfavorable characterization of minority groups are dispelled.